RAMONA STAFFELD
Ramona is the director and owner of 1929 Studios. She is also one of the best-known lindy hop teachers in the world, and travels extensively to teach, perform, and compete. But she sees her role with 1929 Studios as an opportunity to deepen and strengthen her connection to her local community.
Ramona teaches lindy hop, solo jazz, charleston, tap, and stage craft, and is also available for private classes, both online and face to face.
BIOGRAPHY
Ramona Staffeld is a world renowned lindy hop and jazz dancer, and is considered a modern day great. Her career has spanned more than 25 years and taken her to every continent on the globe. Ramona learned from, and was teaching assistant to lindy hop pioneer and ambassador, Frankie Manning. When just a teenager, she was invited by Manning to perform at Lincoln Center as part of the Midsummer Night Swing program.
PERFORMANCES AND CONCERT DANCE
Ramona danced with The Vananver Caravan for many years, and performed with such folk music greats as Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger. As a company member, she danced in Tap City on 42nd Street, at Symphony Space, and in a run of the show Earth Beat! at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Under the direction of Noemie Lafrance, Ramona was a dancer in Agora II, presented by Sens Production in the abandoned McCarren Park Pool Site in Brooklyn, New York.
As creative manager, Ramona was co founder, dance director, and head choreographer of the Melbourne Rhythm Project, along with Leigh Barker and the New Sheiks. The group collaborated to present an hour long show of original dance and music.
Ramona has been cast in the new dance show, Swing Out, set to premier at the Joyce Theatre in NYC at the end of 2021.
Ramona is available for performances and stage management. Read more on our Services page, or contact her directly.
COMPETITIONS
Ramona is a champion competition dancer, holding first place titles from the most famous competitions in the world, including the International Lindy Hop Championships (2016), the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, the American Lindy Hop Championships, and the World Lindy Hop Championships.
She most recently placed first at ILHC 2022 with her long-time dance partner, Remy Kouakou Kouame.
Ramona was a member of the Silver Shadows, and a founding member of Minnie’s Moochers, two of the most influential Lindy Hop groups of the modern era.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Ramona is one of the most in-demand teachers in the lindy hopping world. She has been travelling to teach nationally and internationally since she was a teenager, and been a guest teacher at all the largest dance events in the world, including Jazz Roots Festival (Paris), ILHC (USA), Authentic Jazz Weekend (Seoul), Melbourne Swing Festival (Melbourne), Herrang Dance Camp (Sweden), Lindy Focus (USA), Swing Out New Hampshire (USA), Mother City Hop (Capetown), Australian Tap Dance Festival (Melbourne), Beantown (USA), Frankie 100 (USA), Frankie 95 (USA), Swingtime Ball (China)…and so many, many more.
Ramona's passion, joy, and delight never waver. As a tradition bearer, she teaches with integrity and strong values. She continues to study and learn about African American social dance, music, and culture. Her classes are both fun, deep, stimulating, and informed. She loves swing music, and you will know about it!
RAMONA’S CLASSES
Ramona’s classes are both fun and challenging. She is extremely professional, while at the same time warm and welcoming. Her classes challenge students to participate and become self aware, taking ownership over the process of learning. Ramona’s joy is infectious and genuine. Her example is one of hard work, bravery, and respect for one another. She understands the basic human desire to connect, and values partner dancing for that very reason.
She is perpetually guided by the vision of her greatest teacher, Frankie Manning, and is eternally grateful. Ramona emphasises listening, rhythm, musicality, and improvisation, as the heart of jazz dance. Her deep love and understanding of music is passed on to her students through her example in and out of class.